12 December 1846

Meredith, J., fl. 1846

Autograph note signed

Title: [Receipt for $25 related to the manumission of Frederick Douglass]

Meredith received $25 from Hugh Auld, Frederick Douglass's former owner, for "professional service in relation to the manumission of his negro slave Frederick Baily [Douglass]." Written on a quarter sheet of paper.

GLC07484.05

4 October 1857

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Letter

Title: to Hugh Auld

Douglass writes to his former master after twenty years, admitting that he has often wanted to hold correspondence with Auld. Inquires after the Auld children, who are dear to Douglass: "...I feel nothing but kindness for you all- I love you, but hate Slavery." Asks Auld what year he came to live with the Auld family (the same year a frigate was built by Mr. Beacham). Inquires as to the date of his birth. Mentions seeing Amanda (daughter of Thomas and Lucretia Auld) and that he would like to see other members of the Auld family. Writes, "I could have lived with you during life in freedom…

GLC07484.06

January 12, 1788

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel Huntington

Written by Franklin, signer of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution, as President of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania to Huntington as Governor of Connecticut, three days after Connecticut ratified the Constitution. Writes in his capacity as President of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery. Sends along several copies of the society's constitution, the laws of Pennsylvania concerning slavery, and a copy of Thomas Clarkson's essay on the commerce of slavery from Africa (a copy of the society's constitution is at GLC07485.02, but the other items…

GLC07485.01

1787

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Pamphlet

Title: The constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for promoting the abolition of slavery, and the relief of free negroes, unlawfully held in bondage. Begun in the year 1774, and enlarged on the twenty-third of April, 1787...

(title continues)... To which are added, the acts of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, for the gradual abolition of slavery. Franklin was President of the society, and Benjamin Rush was one of two society secretaries. Includes "An Act to give relief to certain persons taking refuge in the state with respect to their slaves," authorizing those taking refuge in Pennsylvania to keep their slaves.

GLC07485.02

May 1790

Magazine

Title: The universal asylum, and Columbian magazine for May, 1790.

Pages numbered 267-326. Contains "History of the Life and Character of Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D. &c." (pages 268-72), "Plan for Improving the Condition of Free Blacks" (281-82), "Thoughts on Female Education by Benjamin Rush" (continued from previous issue, page 288). Covers medical topics, including hepatitis and influenza. Contains articles on a variety of subjects.

GLC07485.03

13 March 1776

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander McDougall

Encloses articles (not present) in reply to McDougall's questions about Seamans wages. Informs that a model of a pike will be sent to him. Hopes that he has received word of the resolution of Congress restraining military officers from offering oaths to inhabitants as a test. Remarks, " ... to impose a Test is a sovereign Act of Legislation - and when the Army becomes our Legislators, the People that moment become Slaves."

GLC07489

18 November 1780

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Jay agrees to attend to Mr. Warren (the son of the late General Joseph Warren, killed at Bunker Hill), should he visit Madrid. He also refers to passage of the Massachusetts Constitution and asks Gerry to send him a copy. Jay states that he has been "led to entertain high Expectations of your form of Government." Docketed by Gerry. Gerry's draft autograph letter response is penned in the left margin to Jay. Gerry writes back from Marblehead, Massachusetts on 20 September 1781, enclosing a copy of Massachusetts' new constitution and some newspapers [not present]. He concludes by predicting…

GLC07490

1862-1900

Tucker, Alba M., fl. 1865-1887

Header Record

Title: re: capture of Davis and his transport from Nashville to Washington [decimalized]

From the archive of Alba M. Tucker, Assistant Quarter Master. Collection consists of telegrams, general orders, an annual report to the Quartermaster General, printed biographical sketches, newspaper clippings, and one photograph concerning the military service of Alba M. Tucker, particularly his role in the planned transport of Jefferson Davis from Nashville, Tenn., to Washington, D.C. after Davis's capture in May 1865.

GLC07642

1864-1865 ca.

Foote, Henry S. (Henry Stuart), 1804-1880

Letter signed

Title: to John H. Winder re: requesting list of Confederate prisoners

Requesting list of prisoners held at Andersonville and their offenses.

GLC07624

1871

Moses, Franklin Israel, 1838-1906

Pamphlet

Title: Opinion of Chief Justice Moses... Negro Bond Case

Retroactive use of 13th Amendment to cancel sale of slaves.

GLC07627

27 November 1864

Farragut, David Glasgow, 1801-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James E. Montgomery

Written by Admiral Farragut to Major Montgomery as Acting Adjutant General and Chief of Staff. Says Montgomery's note of that morning arrived as he was going ashore to get "a small Brass" cannon at Fort Morgan that Captain Williamson promised him, but he was unable to get it as the captain was not there. Is glad Montgomery has helped made working with the army easier. Says "I urged the taking of Mobile Bay 30 months ago and was put off from time to time by the pressure of the enemy, and difference of opinion at Washington and so I continued the blockade in sunshine and storm until Genls.…

GLC07665

1839-1841

Hand, George, fl. 1839-1841

Autograph manuscript

Title: Log of Whaler "Hamilton"

Portrait of the Lincoln Assassination conspirator after his capture. By Gardner, printed circa 1880's.

GLC07664

1 July 1774

Galloway, Joseph, 1731-1803

Letter signed

Title: to Committee of Correspondence for the Colony of Virginia

Co-signed by Samuel Rhoads and Joseph Galloway on behalf of the committee. Galloway was Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly and would eventually become a well known Loyalist after his Plan of Union was rejected. References their letter asking the Assembly to communicate their sentiments "on the unhappy Dispute with the Mother Country." Says they cannot see the recent actions of Parliament in any light other than an opportunity to extract funds from the colonies. Hopes for a cool and dispassionate mediation in favor of their rights as English subjects. Hopes the rights of Americans will…

GLC07666

11 October 1780

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Timothy Pickering

Writes to Pickering, who was his successor as Quartermaster of the Continental Army when Greene took command of West Point just after Benedict Arnold's treason. Expresses his dismay at the state of the garrison at West Point and requests supplies. "On my arrival at this place I found every thing in so disagreeable strain, so much to do, so little time to do it in ... " Advises that he has stopped Captain Seizer's artillery company from marching until they can get more manpower. Informs that more artificers are needed, that many boats need repair, and that winter barracks need to be built.

GLC07667

1857

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Pamphlet

Title: Two Speeches by Frederick Douglass re: West India emancipation; Dred Scott

Full title: "Two speeches by Frederick Douglass; One on West India Emancipation, delivered at Canandaigua, August 4th and the other on the Dred Scott Decision, delivered in New York... May 1857."

GLC07591

1883

Book

Title: Confederate Constitution [facsimile in scrapbook with images of leaders]

Scrapbook, including facsimile, with all secession ordinances, members off Congress, lists of state governors, members of President's staff and Davis Cabinet engraving, with photographs or engravings. Facsimile printed by Joseph Laing, illustrated with albumen photos of Confederate leaders.

GLC07581

circa 1789

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Print

Title: Colored mezzotint oval portrait

GLC07582

1864-1889 ca.

Forbes, Edwin, 1839-1895

Sketch

Title: With Massa Sherman [pen and ink drawing]

Pen and ink drawing of liberated slaves following Sherman's Army through Georgia.

GLC07588

18 June 1855

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Thompson re: relocation to North Elba, N.Y.

Written on blue stationery of "J. R. Brown, Wool, Butter and Cheese" which has been crossed out. Docketed.

GLC07589

1750

Pamphlet

Title: Treaty concluded and signed at Madrid... [Assiento slave trade]

"Treaty between the ministers plenipotentaries of their Brittanick and Catholic majesties-end of Assiento Treaty between Britain and Spain regulating slave trade." Concluded October 5. Printed in French, English, Spanish.

GLC07594

1864

Stebbins, Lucius, fl. 1864

Print

Title: Reading the Emancipation Proclamation

One lithograph dated 1864. Depicts black family gathered around a black soldier reading a newspaper. The family all look to the soldier in varying stated of shock and hope as he reads the emancipation proclamation. Present are eleven people including a mother and two children who is kneeling and praying in the center of the image.

GLC07595

1817

Torrey, Jesse, fl. 1817

Book

Title: A Portraiture of Domestic Slavery

Engraved frontispiece and 5 additional plates.

GLC07596

1763-1772

Grenville, George, 1753-1813

Header Record

Title: Collection of Grenville papers re: colonial policy towards colonies [Decimalized .01- .42]

Chancellor of the Exchequer and Prime Minister from the spring of April 1763 until July 1765, George Grenville became one of the least loved heads of government over the colonies due to two revenue bills that could be blamed, to an extent, for what eventually propagated into the Revolutionary War. These Acts of Parliament were the Sugar Act of 5 April 1764 and the Stamp Act of 22 March 1765, each designed to raise revenue for a financially limited British Empire.

GLC07654

11 July 1791

Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked "private." Written by Coxe as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury to Knox as Secretary of War. Has heard the Postmaster General (Samuel Osgood) has resigned or signified to President Washington his desire to resign. Would like Knox to nominate him for the job. Writes, "The Emoluments of the office are less than those of the office I hold, but there are circumstances, which I will have the honor to explain to you, that induce me to wish the change & Col. Hamilton is strongly impressed with their weight. I am authorized by him to say in confidence to you, that tho [inserted: he]…

GLC02437.05059

February 13, 1806

Cook, Orchard, 1763-1819

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Talks about a petition Knox has submitted to erect a lighthouse on Franklin Island. Also briefly discusses local news, such as about agriculture.

GLC02437.08006